10 Dog Breeds That Practically Train Themselves

Poodles have a lot more to offer besides looking pretty. Beneath that ever-gorgeous curly coat that steals hearts everywhere is an intelligent, eager-to-please dog that enjoys learning new commands and tricks. It’s for this reason that Poodles excel in obedience competitions. 

Originally bred for hunting and water retrieving, the Poodle’s ability to respond to commands from their humans goes way back. Their highly trainable nature makes them ideal for first-time dog owners.  

“Training a Poodle is the most amazing experience. They love it, and since they love it, they can and will do ANYTHING, if you train them right,” wrote user Rabid_Platypus in a Reddit discussion on the Poodle’s trainability.  

Admired for their herding prowess and intelligence, the Border Collie’s trainability is a solid 10/10! This herding dog breed — who thrives best with tons of physically and mentally stimulating activities — is a quick learner who loves nothing more than pleasing their owners and showcasing their obedience. 

Trust this outstandingly smart furry beauty to make even the most advanced obedience training session a fun one!

“Border Collies are very intelligent and quick to learn. In my experience, they are a trainer’s delight, as they will very quickly learn what you’re teaching them and retain that knowledge pretty much forever,” commented user @samlev in a Reddit discussion post on Border Collies and training. 

Surprised to see the GSD on the list of dogs that are easy to train? We think not. 

Loved for their eagerness to please, intelligence, and responsiveness, it’s easy to see why German Shepherds are often trained to work as police dogs, search & rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs, among other roles. The German Shepherd, originally bred for herding tasks, loves to learn new tricks, especially if the training involves positive reinforcement techniques.

“I absolutely loved training our GSD mixes, it was so much fun. I found they’re so easy to train, obedient, and affectionate,” commented user @AphroditeLoves in a Reddit discussion post on the German Shepherd’s trainability. 

Described as a loyal, protective, smart, and loving dog, the Doberman Pinscher is worth considering if you’re interested in large dog breeds that are easy to train. A working dog breed native to Germany, Dobies are ever open to learning new commands and cooperating with their handlers. 

“Dobies will protect their people. Both of ours were protective of me especially. They’re very intelligent and easy to train, but you have to be super consistent with them and be the alpha,” user @iheartalpinestars wrote in a Reddit discussion post on Doberman Pinschers. 

Besides their stunning looks, the Shetland Sheepdog is a certified people pleaser who loves to learn new tricks and do whatever their humans ask of them. 

This sweet-natured dog’s attentiveness, intelligence, and desire to please makes them one of the most easy-to-train dog breeds you could ever ask for. Shelties were originally kept to herd sheep in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, where they thrived in responding to their handlers’ commands. 

“I got my first Sheltie in 2015 when I was 21 years old and she was incredibly easy to train, would go everywhere with me biut also cool to chill when I had to stay home…….I got my second Sheltie four years ago and she was just as easy to train,” shared user @chumphries4 in a Reddit discussion post on Shetland Sheepdogs. 

Golden Retrievers have it all: good looks, winning personalities, and trainability. Almost everyone with a Golden will tell you how eager to please these loveable pups are, which translates to their responsiveness to training.

Golden Retrievers were originally kept as gun dogs to retrieve waterfowl shot during hunting. Their ability to heed commands made them incredibly valuable to hunters. 

“Golden Retrievers are generally easy to train because they’re eager to please. If you build a positive bond with the dog it’ll do almost anything for you for nothing more than praise,” commented user @optimus420 in a Reddit discussion on the Golden Retriever’s trainability. 

Forget about their stunning butterfly-shaped ears for a moment: the Papillon is more than a sweet face. Papillons are among the smartest small dog breeds that enjoy learning new things, so you can be sure you won’t have a hard time training them. 

Being a companion dog at heart (they were bred for companionship), this adorable breed is often eager to please the humans they’ve bonded with. 

“I cannot describe fully how adorable they are. He was easy to train and picked up on things super quickly,” commented user @klm122333 in a Reddit discussion on the Pros of owning a Papillon. 

Originally bred for retrieving tasks, the Labrador Retriever has a strong background in working with people. This clever, active, and eager-to-please breed enjoys learning challenges and doing what they’re instructed to do, which makes training them a pleasure. 

Not to mention, Labradors are highly food-motivated; they’ll bring their A-game to all training sessions just to get a tasty reward. 

“Labs are absolutely easy to train, and most are pretty food-motivated, which helps a lot. The key is building a bond with them foremost, and then they will be driven to please you,” wrote user @NVSmall in a Reddit discussion post on the trainability of Labrador Retrievers. 

Described as hard workers who love to have a job to do, Australian Cattle Dogs  — also named blue heelers — are obedient and fast learners at heart. This intelligent herding breed is often eager to put their minds to use, meaning they’ll welcome any opportunity to train. 

“The heeler I worked with was a joy to train. Really quick to pick up on commands and loved learning new ones,” stated user @drunkshakespeare in a Reddit discussion on the Australian Cattle Dog’s trainability. 

An active, high-spirited dog who needs tons of mental stimulation and physical activity to stay happy, the English Springer Spaniel’s attentiveness and responsiveness during training will make you fall more in love with this sweet-faced breed.

This hunting dog will do anything to please their owners, including cooperating throughout training.

“I’ve always owned ESSs because they are wonderful companions and beautiful eye candy. They are biddable dogs, ridiculously easy to train,” commented user @corneliustreat888 in a Reddit discussion on English Springer Spaniels.